This refined early 20th-century inkstand, measuring 9 1/4 inches (23.5 cm) in length, exemplifies the elegance of American Gilded Age desk accessories. Crafted by the Gorham Manufacturing Company of Providence, Rhode Island, the piece features a sterling silver oval tray raised on four stylized lily-bracket feet, its pierced gallery enriched with interlaced oval motifs that lend both delicacy and structure. At its center rests a hobnail-cut glass inkwell topped with a domed, reeded sterling lid, uniting practical function with visual opulence. Founded in 1831, Gorham became one of America’s leading silver manufacturers, its works celebrated at international exhibitions and commissioned for the White House. By 1905, when this inkstand was produced, the firm had perfected a synthesis of handcraft artistry and machine precision. With its balanced proportions and exquisite detailing, the piece reflects an era when even utilitarian objects were conceived as works of art, elevating the daily rituals of correspondence with beauty and refinement.
